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Buying winter tyres
Winter tyre laws
Tyre
Laws
Below you can find more information about winter tyre laws in your country.
Albania
No winter tyres mandatory.
Studs not allowed
Andorra
No winter tyres mandatory
M+S and Snowflake-on-the-Mountain symbol
Snow chains, indicated by road signs
Snow chains must be used if winter condition or signs indicate
Austria
Situationally depending on winterly road conditions from 1.10 - 31.5
Valid up to 3.5 tons vehicle weight
M+S marking
Min. tread depth: 4.0mm
If summer tyres are fitted chains for one driven axle are mandatory
Studded tyres are allowed from 1.11 - 15.4.
If studded tyres are fitted they are mandatory for all axles (incl. trailer)
Belarus
Winter tyres mandatory from 1st December to 28th February
valid up to 3.5 t vehicles
min. tread depth 4.0 mm
Winter tyres have to be mounted on all 4 axles
Studded tyres can be used as all other winter tyres
Belgium
M+S tyres with lower speed index accepted from 1st October to 30th April (labelling the max speed in the dashboard mandatory)
M+S marked tyres with same/higher speed index accepted all the year round
Alpine symbol tyres with smaller speed index accepted all the year round (labelling the max speed in the dashboard mandatory)
Bosnia and Herzegowina
Winter tyres mandatory from 15.11.- 15.04.
valid up to 3.5 tons vehicle weight and not more than 8 seats
M+S marking
min. tread depth 4.0 mm
studs are not allowed
Bulgaria
No winter tyres mandatory
Studs not allowed
Croatia
Winter tyres mandatory
From 15.11. - 15.4.
Up to 3.5 tons
M+S marking
Min. tread depth 4,.0 mm
Cyprus
No winter tyres mandatory
valid up to 3.5 tons vehicle weight
Czech Republic
Depending on winter weather conditions
Denmark
No winter tyes mandatory
Studded tyres allowed from 1/11 until 15/4
Estonia
Winter tyres mandatory from 01.12. - 01.03.
M+S marking
min. tread depth 3.0 mm
Studded tyres can be used from 15.10. - 01.04.
Finland
Mandatory to use winter tyres 1st December to last day of February
Min. tread depth 3.0 mm
Studded tyres can be used From 1st November to the 1st Monday after Easter, outside this time can be used if "winter" conditions
Valid up to 3.5 t vehicle weight
France
Situational winter tyre obligation in places indicated by road signs depending on winter weather conditions
M+S and Snowflake-on-the-Mountain symbol
Snow chains, indicated by road signs
Snow chains must be used if winter condition or signs indicate
Germany
Depending on winter weather conditions
Situational winter tyres are mandatory
valid up to 3.5 tons vehicle weight
M+S marking
Greece
No winter tyres mandatory
Valid up to 3.5 tons
Snow chains allowed, max. speed limit 50 km/h
Hungary
No winter tyres mandatory
Iceland
No winter tyres mandatory
Ireland
No winter tyres mandatory
valid up to 3.5 tons vehicle weight
Italy
Winter Tyre Obligation in places from 15.11.2015 - 15.04.2015
Valid up to 3.5 tons vehicle weight
M+S marking
Extension: 1 month for mounting (15.10 - 15.11) and 1 month for dismounting (15.04 - 15.5)
It's strongly recommended to fit 4 winter tyres with a minimum tread depth of 4 mm
Winter Tyres allowed in summer (16.05 - 14.10) if the speed index is the same or higher of the one in the vehicle registration paper
Latvia
Winter tyres mandatory from 01.12. - 01.03.
M+S marking
min. tread depth 4.0 mm
Studded tyres can be used from 01.10. - 01.05.
Liechtenstein
No general winter tyre regulations, regional regulations are possible in winter road conditions (f.e Pass-Roads)
Min. tread depth for winter tyres 1.6mm
In case of an accident with summer tyres in wintry conditions, be aware of liability issues
If authorities announce snow chain obligation, only snow chains are permitted (four-wheel drive may be excluded)
Use of snow chains in case of respective road signs and conditions
Studded tyres are permitted for vehicles <7.5 t GVW between November 1 and April 30 or on snow-covered roads
Max speed 80 km/h
Vehicles with studded tyres have to be labeled with a sticker 80 km/h
Lithuania
Winter tyres mandatory from 01.11. - 01.04.
M+S marking
min. tread depth 3.0 mm
Studded tyres can be used as all other winter tyres during the mandatory winter period
Luxembourg
Depending on winter weather conditions
valid up to 3.5 t vehicle weight
M+S marking
Cars has to be equipped with 4 tyres carring the same marking
on the sidewall (4 *, 4MO, 4MS, 4Snowflake...)
studded tyres allowed from 01.12. - 31.03
recommended min. tread depth 4.0 mm
Macedonia
Winter tyres mandatory from 15.11. - 15.03.
M+S and Snowflake-on-the-Mountain marking
min. tread depth 4.0 mm
studs not allowed
Malta
No winter tyres mandatory
Valid up to 3.5 tons vehicle weight
Moldavia
Depending on winter weather conditions from 01.12. - 01.03.
Valid up to 3.5 tons vehicle weight
M+S marking
Studs allowed from 01.12. - 01.03 (only in case factual snow conditions)
Montenegro
Depending on winter weather conditions
From 15.11. - 31.3.
Winter tyre mandatory up to 3.5 tons
M+S marking
Min. tread depth 3.0 mm
Netherlands
No winter tyres mandatory
Norway
Depending on winter weather conditions
Valid up to 3.5 t vehicle weight
M+S especially developed for winter use and/or 3PMSF
Min. tread depth 3.0 mm
Studded tyres allowed
From 1st November to the first Monday after Easter in the South
From 15th October to 1st May in the North
Poland
No winter tyre mandatory
Valid up to 3.5 t vehicle weight
Snow chains only allowed on roads covered with snow and ice.
Studded tyres not allowed
Portugal
No winter tyres mandatory
Romania
Depending on winter weather conditions
Valid up to 3.5 tones vehicle weight
M+S marking
Russia
Winter tyres mandatory from 1. Dec. - 28. Feb.
M+S as well as Snowflake-on-the-Mountain symbol
Min. tread depth 4.0 mm
If using studded tyres, they have to be on all positions
Winter tyres have to be mounted on all positions
Studs are forbidden from 1st June - 30th August
Serbia / Kosovo
Depending on winter weather conditions
From 1.11. - 31.3.
Winter tyres are mandatory up to 3.5 tons
M+S marking
Min. tread depth 3.0 mm
Slovakia
Depending on winter weather conditions
From 15.11. - 31.3.
Winter tyres are mandatory
valid up to 3.5 t vehicle weight
M+S marking
Min. tread depth 3 mm
Snow chains must be used if signs indicate and can be used if winter condition.
Forbidden to use spike tyres. Only ambulances can use spike tyres.
Slovenia
Winter tyres mandatory from 15.11.-15.03.
valid up to 3.5 tones vehicle weight
M+S marking
min. tread depth 3.0 mm
studs not allowed
Spain
Depending on winter weather conditions
Situational winter tyres are mandatory
Valid up to 3.5 tons vehicle weight
M+S marking
Min. tread depth 1.6 mm
Sweden
Depending on winter weather conditions from 01.12. - 31.03.
Valid up to 3.5 tons vehicle weight
M+S and/or Snowflake-on-the-Mountain marking
Min. tread depth 3.0 mm
List of approved winter tyres on
www.dackinfo.se
Studded tyres allowed 01.10. - 15.04.
Switzerland
No general winter tyre regulations, regional regulations are possible in winter road conditions (f.e Pass-Roads)
Min. tread depth for winter tyres 1.6 mm
In case of an accident with summer tyres in wintry conditions, be aware of liability issues
If authorities announce snow chain obligation, only snow chains are permitted (four-wheel drive may be excluded)
Use of snow chains in case of respective road signs and conditions
Studded tyres are permitted for vehicles <7.5 t GVW between November 1 and April 30 or on snow-covered roads
Max speed 80 km/h
Vehicles with studded tyres have to be labeled with a sticker 80 km/h
Turkey
Valid for just commercial vehicles (including taxi, light trucks, trucks, buses)
Winter tyres are mandatory from 01. December. - 01. April
Ukraine
No winter tyres mandatory
United Kingdom
No winter tyres mandatory
valid up to 3.5 tons vehicle weight